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For example, I have three apples. I eat them one by one and after that I want to say there are no apples anymore. Is phrase "apples are ended" correct or should I use another verb?

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4 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

"Ended" refers to a process, whereas "finished" and "gone" can refer to objects as well. "Ended" is also rather literary.

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up vote 8 down vote

The most natural way of saying it in Britsh English would be The apples are all gone.

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Ditto for American English – JeffSahol Oct 23 '11 at 20:05
And what about : There aren't any apples left ? – Laure Oct 23 '11 at 20:30
It would depend on the circumstances. – Barrie England Oct 23 '11 at 21:16
up vote 3 down vote

'Apples are ended' doesn't sound correct because of the verb choice. I'd say 'The apples are finished' or the more obvious 'I ate all the apples'.

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I don't really like "the apples are finished", it makes me wonder "What were the apples doing?" – BradC Oct 24 '11 at 15:09
"The apples are finished" sounds just as wrong as "The apples are ended". – Marthaª Oct 24 '11 at 16:41
@Marthaª: not to me. "All gone" is more likely, but I find nothing wrong with "The apples are finished, but there are still some bananas". – Colin Fine Oct 26 '11 at 11:30
up vote 2 down vote

I would use "the apples are finished," or possibly "the apples are no more," but that seems a bit dramatic.

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"The apples are finished" sounds just as wrong as "The apples are ended". "I finished the apples", on the other hand, is perfectly fine. – Marthaª Oct 24 '11 at 16:42

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